Let’s give new commission a chance, and incorporation a rest

By Mike Holderness

Much is being written about the incorporation of Siesta Key and, I have to ask, why now?

The thought is that Siesta Key understandably needs quality representation, but wasn’t that the reasoning behind singlemember county commission districts enacted in 2022?

I’m always willing to consider a better way, but just last year voters were told that singlemember districts would solve the representation problem. Then Siesta voters overwhelmingly elected Mark Smith and Joe Neunder to the available seats, and both new commissioners are focused on keeping their districts well-represented.

I now must ask, does the continued push for incorporation better serve the needs of Siesta Key? Rarely can something be both ways. How can the new county commissioners be supported when there’s an effort to pull away from the county?

The newly elected, qualified, and enthusiastic commissioners were only sworn in this past November. Couldn’t the continued push for incorporation distract and potentially render the elected commissioners representing the Siesta Key districts inconsequential -- and don’t they deserve the support from the community that elected them?

History does show that the last time the incorporation effort gained momentum, the county capitulated and, after much community input, the alternative Siesta Key Overlay District (SKOD) was created. SKOD gave the barrier island its own and more stringent zoning regulations than the rest of unincorporated Sarasota County.

Many worked hard to ensure SKOD’s success. Still, some previous commissioners after the fact would ignore even the basic needs of Siesta Key, including rental ordinances and the legislative process of SKOD. Meanwhile, the newly elected commissioners are focused like lasers to provide residents of Siesta Key residents the support they need.

In the past, Siesta Key may have been underrepresented -- some feel by the dilution of having all five commissioners representing the entire county, which may have allowed a few unelected staff members to sway oversized influence over the commission.

Regardless, I know that our current representatives and many members of county staff are working hard to represent Siesta

Key. The county has great staff members and commissioners, and it should be given a shot.

It’s also important to remember that Smith, while previously representing the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, stood with his community and for SKOD. He was with many, including myself, in opposing the new unlimited density hotels and the illegal transient rentals that plague single-family-zoned residential neighborhoods.

Both Smith and Neunder also understand the importance of traffic management, managed public beaches, the lawlessness that goes on, and improving water quality of our bays, inlet waterways and estuaries. That’s just to mention a few.

Meanwhile, more questions than answers arise from the incorporation effort. It has brought to light many deficiencies and, at the very least, incorporating today now appears to be counterproductive, costly, and duplicative. Rarely can something be both ways.

It is best to table incorporation and stand behind the ones elected, by the people, representing Siesta Key. Most local residents just want to enjoy their slumber without chaos or any fight that will split our community forever. Let’s be supportive our new elected officials before jumping to vote on something as permanent, challenging, and costly as incorporating a new municipality.

And, look at the political capital that was spent to get incorporation to the point where a bill is filed in the state legislature -- a bill that is unlikely to withstand the legislative process and/or the governor’s veto pen.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to all Siesta Key advocates! The efforts to incorporate encourages discussion and debate about what is best for today and the future.

For the first time, in a very long time, everything is in place for success. It’s where we go from here that counts and keeping a community united, like Siesta, is the KEY. Let’s encourage everyone to find common ground and stand together.

(Mike Holderness is a Siesta Keybased Realtor and business owner, specializing in local island rentals and hotel accommodations.)

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Sheriff’s Report

Jan. 16: trespass, civil unrest, battery on law enforcement officer, resisting arrest

The manager of a Village restaurant called police to report two female patrons who had been consuming alcohol for some time but were refusing to pay their bill of $135.89. A witness corroborated the manager’s account. Defendant, appearing to be intoxicated, first told police that she only had one drink and refused to pay the bill, then insisted that she had, in fact, paid the bill. When defendant’s friend finally agreed to pay the bar tab, defendant struck a police officer with an open hand, screamed, and ultimately resisted arrest. Defendant was ultimately charged and booked in the Sarasota County Jail.

Jan. 17: theft

Victim reported that her purse was stolen from where she left it on the bar at a Village bar. Police reviewed camera footage and corresponding bar receipts for evidence. They identified a man taking the purse, as well as his identity through the receipts, and the case has been assigned to a detective for further investigation.

Jan. 22: battery

Police responded to a report of a battery behind a Village bar. A female patron reported that she stepped into the alley behind the club to have a telephone conversation when an unidentified male approached her and pushed her against a wall. He attempted to assault her, but he reportedly ran away when she started screaming. The victim did not sustain visible injuries. The case remains open.

Jan. 23: theft

A victim reported a $1,000 Onewheel riding device was stolen from her home sometime between 9/1/22 and 1/23/23. The residence was under renovation, and the garage code was given to a contractor under contractual agreement that it is not shared and that all work at the residence be supervised by the contractor. At some point, the contractor was released from the job and litigation ensued. Recently, a third-party contractor told the victim that an individual associated with the prior renovation contractor had alluded to a theft. The case remains open.

Feb. 1: theft

A waitress at a Siesta Key restaurant reported that two adults and two children ate at the restaurant, and the adults proceeded to leave without paying their bill. The waitress followed the adults into the parking lot and asked them to return to pay their bill. They got into their car and left the parking lot without paying. The unpaid bill totaled $115.56.

Feb. 2: theft

A victim reported that his Nike bag was stolen the prior day at Siesta Beach. The bag contained his phone and Apple watch.

Later, the victim saw the phone and watch were pinging in a local parking lot and went to observe. Victim called police to assist when he saw two suspects.

The police observed the male suspect enter a public restroom with only one stall. When he exited the restroom, the phone was pinging in the stall. When police retrieved the phone and wallet from the restroom and confirmed that it belonged to the victim, they detained the male suspect, who denied knowledge of the items. He told police he was transient and stayed with the female suspect in her car.

The female defendant consented to a search of her car, which revealed the victim’s bag. Additional missing items were not located. The female defendant was arrested and transported to the Sarasota County Jail.